As he spent his days on the earth as a charming youth serving the Brilliant Lord, who shared the left side of his form with the Beautiful Parvati, Tampiran Tozhar thought of his friend Cheraman Perumal, whose love and devotion was synchronised with his. He left Tiruvarur to see his spiritual companion. On the way to the mountainous Kerala, he crossed the Kongu lands. In the town of Tirupukoliyur he heard the sounds of joy and weeping emanating simultaneously from two houses opposite to each other. He was informed by the local people that both were on account of two five-year-old children respectively in those houses. One was eaten up by a crocodile. The house where the five-year-old survived was celebrating his Upanayanam (investiture of the sacred thread) while the other family wept in memory of their lost boy. Sundarar's soft heart melted immediately. Coming to know about the arrival of the Nayanar, that couple hiding their sorrow, welcomed him. Determined to wipe their sorrow away by Divine Grace, he sang about the Lord of Avinashi at the lake where the boy was swallowed. Then a marvel occurred by the Lord’s Grace, the crocodile appeared and spit out the boy as old as he would have been had he not been eaten by the crocodile! The thrilled mother ran to hug her boy. They saluted Sundarar Peruman and he in turn saluted his Shiva.

Finding bliss at the Feet of the Father at the different shrines along the west that were on the way, Tampiran Tozhar reached the Chera kingdom. Delighted to hear about the arrival of his dear friend, emperor Perumakadaiyar rushed to the frontiers to receive him royally. The two great devotees who praised only the Peerless Paraman saluted and hugged each other. Holding the royal white umbrella over the Nayanar’s head, the king took him on an elephant to the royal palace. Tampiran Tozhar accepted the services of the saintly ruler of the Chera land. Vantondar worshiped at the wonderful shrines of the ash besmeared Lord in the Chera lands.

One day when Cherar was immersed in the worship of the Lord, Sundara Murti Nayanar entered the Lord's shrine at Tiruvanychai Kalam. Bowing down in devotion many times, the brilliant servitor of Shiva sang the blissful “talaikku talai malai” with the intention of breaking the bonds of this world. The Lord intended to bring him back to His service at Kailash. He commanded the divine beings to bring the devotee on a white elephant. Tampiran Tozhar thanking Mahadeva of thousands of names got on the elephant and then thought about his friendship with the Chera king. The king sensing this immediately, rushed on a horse that stood nearby, to Vanychaikalam and saw the Nayanar elegantly riding on an elephant to the Lord's Kailash by the heavenly path. He didn't stop, but chanted the powerful and supreme Holy Five Letters of the Lord into the ears of the horse raising it in the air, following the elephant. His horse reached Sundarar's elephant, circumambulated it and continued with it towards the Sacred Abode.

On his way the blessed Sundarar sang “tanenai munpadaitan” praising the immense Grace the Lord showered on him. On reaching the southern gate of the mountain, Cherar and Sundarar got down and with their minds directed towards the Supreme proceeded to His abode. At the gate of the heavenly abode, Cherar was stopped by the gate-keepers, while Sundarar was allowed in. Like the calf that rushes to the cow after a long separation, Sundarar rushed to the Lord, saluting Him. The pure hearted Arurar, even after attaining the most sort after beatitude for himself, indicated to the Lord that the Chera king was still outside. The Lord ordered him to be granted permission to enter His place. Surely, the association with the good brings good! The great devotee Cheraman who was blessed with such a marvellous friend rushed to the Floral Feet of the Lord praising Him in the “tiru kayilaya nyana ula”. Sundarar become Alala Sundarar again in the service of Shiva. He and Cheraman became the heads of the service groups of the Lord at His Divine abode. By the blessings of the Goddess Paravaiyar and Sangiliyar became Kamaliniyar and Anindidaiyar serving Her. The king of oceans Varuna brought to the world at Tiruvanychaikalam, the pathigam that Sundarar sang on his way to Kailash. Maha Sastha (Machathanar) conveyed the ula sung by Cherar to the world at Tirupidavur. May the glory of the devotees who bear Lord Shiva in their hearts pervade the world! Let the glorious love of Sundarar towards the Supreme stay in our minds.

Guru Pooja: Aadi / Svati or Karka / Svati

Har Har Mahadev

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Sundaramurti Nayanar - Part VII  - Cheraman Tozhar (The Friend of Cheraman)

life of chun^dhara mUrthi n^AyanAr - through his thEvAram 
சேக்கிழார் எடுத்துத் தந்த சுந்தரர் திருப்பதிகங்கள்